For over two decades, Madison Opera has been accomplishing an incredible feat. Apart from presenting a series of fully staged operas at the Overture Center, the company also organizes Opera in the Park, a free outdoor summer concert that attracts over 10,000 attendees. This event provides a fantastic opportunity for spectators to enjoy picnicking on the grass under the stars while being serenaded by talented rising stars from the world of opera, accompanied by a full orchestra. However, behind the scenes, the staff at Madison Opera faces a monumental task.
Kathryn Smith, the general director of Madison Opera, remarks, "I feel like I age a year during that week due to all the stress. But when everything comes together and we see how many people we've made happy, everyone believes it's worthwhile. It's part of our purpose to entertain our community."
The original inspiration for an outdoor opera performance came from Marian Bolz, an extraordinary arts supporter who played a significant role in organizations such as the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Madison Opera, and the creation of the Overture Center. According to Smith, Bolz attended an outdoor concert featuring classical music while on vacation one summer. Upon returning, she encouraged the then-general manager of Madison Opera, Ann Stanke, to organize a similar event. With the support of artistic director John DeMain, they decided to host a one-night-only Opera in the Park in 2002. The immediate popularity of the concert led to its continuation the following year, and it has grown in size and scope every summer since then.
Smith describes the event as a magical night, a combination of the park, people enjoying themselves, and beautiful music on a pleasant evening. While Opera in the Park follows a basic structure that remains the same each year because it works, it feels like a completely new show for the audience, as the soloists and repertoire change annually.
Whenever possible, Smith books vocalists who will be performing in the upcoming Madison Opera season, providing the audience with a sneak peek of the artists' work. It also serves as an excellent opportunity for Smith to consider performers she may feature in the future and welcome back singers from recent productions. Once she secures commitments from the four soloists, ideally around March, she requests lists of their entire repertoire.
"I compile all that information into spreadsheets, including arias, full operatic roles, musical theater pieces, party pieces, and operettas they know. Then I start cross-referencing to find opportunities for duets and ensembles that create a musically captivating show," explains Smith. The program typically includes 20 pieces, incorporating glimpses of the upcoming season, and it concludes with an audience singalong of "It's A Grand Night for Singing" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical State Fair.
According to Smith, the singers who participate in Opera in the Park thoroughly enjoy the experience and are pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is.
The planning for Opera in the Park begins nine months prior to the event. In November or December, the City of Madison inquires about the date, which is a Saturday in late July, avoiding any conflicts with the Art Fair on the Square. The real countdown starts in January, according to Jill Krynicki, the organization's director of production. She oversees numerous spreadsheets outlining the annual tasks and deadlines, revealing the complex nature of hosting an event of this magnitude in Garner Park.
Smith notes the multitude of technical and structural requirements, emphasizing that they have to bring in everything needed for the event. Krynicki's responsibilities include applying for city and parks permits, reserving sound and lighting equipment, ordering scaffolding for the stage, renting forklifts, generators, portable toilets, and event tents, as well as coordinating with the fire department for emergency plans. All this is done before any singers have even been booked.
Smith acknowledges the indispensable support of numerous local companies that contribute to the success of the event year after year. These businesses provide stagehands, catering services, shuttle buses, golf carts, dressing room trailers, walkie-talkies, and more. Additionally, volunteers play a crucial role, with around 100 individuals assisting with parking, distributing programs, selling merchandise and raffle tickets, and facilitating transportation for audience members and artists.
Musically, there is a lot to accomplish within a short timeframe. Approximately 40 members of the Madison Symphony perform onstage, along with 45 members of the Madison Opera Chorus, including several high school-aged apprentices. To prepare for Opera in the Park, there is one rehearsal with the principal performers on Thursday, another rehearsal with the full cast on Friday night, and finally, the performance on Saturday. Smith describes the production week as a glorious insanity.
Smith's first experience with Opera in the Park occurred just two weeks after she became the general manager of Madison Opera in 2011. While she had previously worked with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Madison event had a distinct feel. Smith describes it as having a lovely Midwest, Madison ethos, where people would lay down their tarps early in the morning to secure a spot for the concert, and others respected that by not disturbing them. At the end of the night, people cleaned up after themselves, which amazed her as an outsider.
Smith also recalls feeling extremely nervous during her first Opera in the Park, primarily due to her stage fright. Speaking in front of 10,000 people was a daunting prospect. However, she found the experience to be magical.
This year, Opera in the Park is scheduled to take place on July 22 at 8 p.m. in Garner Park. The performance will feature soprano Katerina Burton, mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, tenor Martin Luther Clark, and baritone Weston Hurt. The program will include works written in three languages across three centuries, ranging from compositions by Handel, Verdi, and Puccini to the new opera The Factotum, which premiered in Chicago in 2023. Musical theater selections will include pieces from Sondheim's Into the Woods, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, and Bernstein's Candide.
The performances will be sung in their original languages (English, French, or Italian) without supertitles. Smith explains that she will introduce each piece and its characters, providing a general idea of the storyline so that the meaning behind each song will be clear to the audience.
The production of Opera in the Park costs approximately $300,000. Smith expresses gratitude to the sponsors who firmly believe in making this event happen.
"It's truly amazing that the people of Dane County can enjoy the performances of these exceptionally talented singers and listen to beautiful music without any cost," says Smith. "These are the same singers who grace stages in New York, Paris, and London, performing all over the world."
Source: isthmus.com
